Chapter 76

Translator: penny

Chapter: 75

Chapter Title: If Your Tail is Long, It Gets Stepped On

- Bang…!

I burst out of my room in a panic and rushed to the room where Lady Artel was staying, throwing the door open with all my might and charging inside.

"Ex, excuse me!"

Thankfully, the door wasn't locked, so there was no delay, but that didn't erase the uneasy feeling gnawing at me.

"…Ah."

And sure enough, the moment I entered the room, my eyes fell on Artel collapsed near the entrance, bleeding profusely.

"Wh-what happened…."

"Ah…."

"First, treatment…!"

Without a moment to panic, I hurried to her side, knelt down, and reached out to heal the serious wound on her neck first.

"There's no time for that…."

"What?"

"The mirror…."

But Artel, pale and shaking her head, pushed me away and suddenly pointed to the mirror hanging in the room.

"Inside there… the black curtain of the curse…."

"What are you talking about?"

"Wake everyone up… the carriages… near the mansion…."

Even so, I reached out again and finally healed the wound on her neck, but Artel's condition showed no sign of improvement as she mumbled incomprehensible words.

"…Who did this to you?"

Growing desperate, I forcibly infused life force and shook her shoulders, but Artel, her eyes already dulled, could barely muster a weak voice.

"The Holy Church…."

But that was the end. No more words came from her mouth.

"……."

I stared blankly at Artel, who now looked like an emotionless doll, then quietly shifted my gaze to the mirror.

"……?"

But there was no one in the room besides me and Artel. Naturally, nothing should reflect in the mirror either.

"No way."

However, not ignoring Artel's words, I glared at the mirror quietly, sensing something off, and just in case, I dyed my eyes red.

"……!"

The very next instant, the truth behind Artel's words revealed itself in my vision.

"Haa…."

The moment my eyes turned red, what reflected in the mirror was a woman with her face covered in white cloth, letting out a cold sigh.

It was the same as the unidentified figure from the secret auction house, presumed to belong to the Holy Church.

"The Belverks are interfering again."

Something inside me snapped at her muttering while glancing at me.

"Well, no need to worry about being tailed."

"……."

"I never sent a carriage to the Belverks in the first place…."

As if I were of no concern, the cloth-masked woman muttered dissatisfiedly to herself and quietly turned her back.

"Hey."

Unable to bear that infuriating sight, I quietly opened my mouth, still with red eyes.

"Who are you?"

At that moment, the cloth-masked woman froze and slowly turned to look at me.

"…Can you see me?"

"Who else would I be talking to?"

"Oh dear, that's strange…."

Due to years of abuse, polite speech was second nature to me, but right now, I couldn't afford such courtesy.

"I should only be visible to that pitiful lady of the Charhen Marquisate…."

"Shut up."

Against the Holy Church's 'black curtain,' clearly deeply involved in my human experiments and cover-ups, that was being too generous.

"As expected, Kairen. You truly are special."

"……."

"You've piqued my interest even more."

So, glaring at the mirror with a cold expression I'd never shown before, a voice from within sounded amused.

"But it's not time yet."

"Not time?"

"No need to rush. We'll meet soon enough."

And with that mocking finish, the cloth-masked woman turned away again.

"So, look forward to our next meeting in person."

I coldly glared at her back, then suddenly lifted the corner of my mouth and spoke.

"Got it."

I didn't know who this being in the mirror was, but there was one thing I could tell.

"You're a coward, aren't you?"

So, I spat it out without holding back, and the cloth-masked woman froze again.

"What did you just say?"

"That you're a coward."

As she turned back with a chilling voice, I lifted my mouth higher and continued.

"My mother scares you so much you can't even show yourself here and have to hide somewhere."

"……."

"You're just that ugly person who hides away, digging into others' weaknesses to plot schemes, right?"

And a brief silence followed.

"Haha…."

From that silence came a creepy laugh.

"Begging to be spared in the lab, you were just a weak little kid, but now you've grown into a fine young man."

As she turned to me again with a laugh in her voice, I couldn't help but smile once more.

"That hit a nerve, huh?"

"……."

"Well, it's cliché anyway."

Knowing that fact was as good as her admitting she was the true black curtain.

And did she think I'd recall that trauma now and tremble?

"In romance fantasy novels for women, the black curtains are always utterly vile."

Sorry, but I'm the youngest son of Belverk now. Such lame provocations don't scare me.

"What are you?"

As I smiled confidently, the cloth-masked woman, staring at me, questioned in a chilling voice.

"No, that can't be…."

Of course, not worth answering, so as I kept silent, she started muttering to herself.

"…Hoo."

Suddenly, she panted, then spoke with a laugh again.

"What am I doing against a brat like you?"

"……."

"You're hiding under Belverk's protection anyway."

Ah, resorting to that now? But a ten-year-old kid deserves protection, so it didn't bother me.

"You can't do much anyway, right?"

"Is that so?"

"Haha, even if you muster courage, that cute face isn't scary at all."

Still, I had reason to keep the woman in the mirror here longer, so I played along.

"Anyway, see you next time."

"……."

"And be prepared then."

But from her tone, it seemed impossible to keep her any longer.

"Yeah, see you."

Even so, I'd already gotten what I wanted, so I bid farewell with a cold smile.

"Sister Anastasia."

Of course, mostly to kindly inform her of the situation she feared most.

"…What?"

Sure enough, a slightly trembling voice came from the mirror.

"How do you know that name…."

Memorizing that voice in my head, I quietly looked up.

"Ah."

At that instant, the cloth-masked woman urgently stood and reached forward.

After that, the system window glitched with errors like at the auction house, but I'd already obtained what I wanted most.

"I don't know when you started your activities, Sister."

So, eyes glowing red, I approached the mirror closely and spoke to the woman before me in my usual bright voice, using polite speech specially for her.

"But I can say this for sure."

It seemed that would scratch her nerves even more.

"Your peaceful days end today."

With that heartfelt declaration of war, a brief silence fell between me and the woman.

- Crash…!

Breaking it was the sound of the mirror shattering from the cloth-masked woman's sudden punch, her body trembling quietly.

'Ouch, that must hurt.'

Breaking it with her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fist, glass shards must have embedded. It made me wince, but I didn't pity her.

After all, from now on, she'd suffer hundreds of times more at the hands of me and Belverk. Pitying her over this was premature.

So, please realize that and live in fear every day until we find you.

As I thought that, the system window flickered briefly and began to fade.

Seeing the slightly disappointed message, I quietly rolled my eyes.

System Sis quickly corrected herself, flickered a few more times, and quietly vanished before me.

"Haa…."

Standing silently before the shattered mirror for a moment, I deeply sighed and turned my head.

"Now that I've uncovered the black curtain's identity…."

I said to Lady Artel, quietly collapsed behind me.

"Time to wrap this up."

Completing the sudden quest's conditions starts now.

How much time had passed since she discarded all emotions in an instant?

Regaining her senses, Artel von Charhen felt like she was sinking into a deep, deep quagmire.

'Not much time left.'

Her neck wound had already vanished.

Though she awoke from anemia, she felt no sense of being alive.

'Will I end up like the adults like this?'

Of course, the Charhen Marquisate occasionally produced those who lost emotions.

But those were karma from personal greed and excess.

Thus, no one in the family knew why clan members suddenly became invalids en masse over the past ten years.

'Now that I've realized the cause….'

Artel had finally realized it, but her heart didn't race.

In this state where even will, pride, and instincts faded, it was inevitable.

"……."

Staring blankly at the ceiling for a long time, Artel quietly closed her eyes and thought of someone.

'…Grandfather.'

Unlike her parents who discarded emotions for strength, her grandfather who adored her dearly.

She never showed it, but he was the one she respected and loved most.

'Even thinking of Grandfather brings no emotion now.'

Yet, even recalling him evoked nothing.

'…I'm sorry.'

Feeling even basic survival emotions vanish, she closed her eyes and organized her thoughts.

'For not becoming the world's greatest swordsman like you….'

Just as her world was about to end with that monologue.

"Isn't it too early to give up?"

A bright voice suddenly rang in her ear.

"Closing your eyes like this would be too unfair!"

Opening her eyes quietly, an overwhelming sensation enveloped Artel.

"Ah…."

Wrapped in a dazzling, warm, cozy feeling, she wore a dazed expression, then suddenly widened her eyes and spoke.

"No."

To Kairen, who now hugged her, eyes red, smiling brightly.

"I've committed an unforgivable sin against you."

"……?"

"And to take even your remaining time…."

Realizing her lost emotions returning rapidly, she raised her voice urgently.

"…That would be too horrific!"

Kairen tilted his head, then spoke softly as if understanding.

"I read it in a novel from my past life—or rather, long ago."

Artel, listening blankly, suddenly shuddered.

"Humans are wandering beings who strive because they are imperfect."

Her face began to pale.

"Thus, the gods save those who strive endlessly."

Though still hazy-minded, she understood what Kairen, holding her, meant.

"I'm no grand god."

"……."

"But I think your actions today are worth saving."

Right now, Kairen was trying to save her.

"That's my conclusion."

Sacrificing lifespan, life force, even emotions for her, who had carved into his heart.

"Don't!"

"No."

Realizing it, Artel struggled desperately, but weakened by anemia and emotion loss, she couldn't overcome Kairen's red-eyed strength.

"Your ability absorbs others' curses, right…."

"……."

"Are you saying you'll become an invalid instead of someone like me?"

Abandoning physical resistance, she urgently persuaded him with a deathly pale face.

"It's fine. I have no risks anyway."

"What…?"

"Kairen has a lifespan of ten thousand years, and curses are detoxed quickly!"

Of course, Kairen said it confidently without hesitation.

"So, no problem at all!"

However, having heard the truth from Sigrune, Artel knew it was a lie.

"Eut…!"

Now sobbing and using all her infant strength for a final struggle.

"Instead of an apology, promise ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me one thing."

"……."

"I have a favor to ask."

Instead, Kairen gripped her hand tightly, whispering in her ear with an incredibly radiant smile.

"When you wake up again…."

An innocent wish unfit for a terminally ill boy abused most of his life.

"…Become my knight!"

With those words, Artel's mind gradually blurred and finally went dark.

"Mm…."

How much time passed?

"Ah."

Awakening in her assigned room's bed, Artel stared blankly at the ceiling before snapping to attention.

- Bang…!

Without delay, she jumped up, opened the door, and ran down the hall with a pale face.

'Please… I beg you….'

Despite the guilt choking her throat yellowing her vision, she forced herself forward.

'Please say those words were true….'

Praying Kairen's final words weren't a white lie, she sped up even more.

"Haa, haa…."

Reaching Kairen's room in a blink, catching her breath roughly.

"Young Master…."

"He's at it again…."

"It's gotten worse lately…."

Suddenly, whispers from maids gathered ahead.

"W-wait a moment!"

Her mind going white at those words, Artel staggered forward.

"Please move aside…."

But she froze after a few steps.

"Ah."

Inside the open door for cleaning was an unbearable sight.

"……."

Kairen sat on the bed, mouth agape, staring at the sky with a blank expression eerily like the invalid adults.

- Thud….

Staring blankly for a long time, Artel quietly collapsed to the floor.

'Good thing the aftereffects wore off quickly.'

It was my first time with an emotion-erasing curse, a bit scary, but after a good night's sleep, I was back to normal.

The system, recovered quickly as expected, informed me of the new main quests.

Thanks ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to that, after meticulously checking new skill windows and pending quest progress over hours, seeing the final new main quests pop up, I thought 'it's here' and swallowed dryly.

'…Huh?'

Suddenly, quests I couldn't ignore appeared last.

'What does this mean?'

Does this mean my eldest sister will soon rebel against Belverk?

I'd somewhat expected it, but not that preparations for rebellion were already this advanced.

'Feels like the real start now….'

Yeah, time to dive into the world's flow properly.

But as the protagonist of a romance fantasy parenting story, I should handle this momentum smoothly.

'…Hm?'

Steeling myself internally and closing the system window, a suspicious presence came from the side.

"Ahh… as expected…."

Turning my head, what entered my view was.

"It was a lie…."

Lady Artel, slumped powerlessly before my door, tears welling as she muttered.

'…Huh?'

Now, what's this about?